Electroluminescent device and method of manufacturing same

Abstract

An electroluminescent device which includes a close arrangement including a first set of fibers and a second set of fibers being arranged to form a two dimensional close array of junctions between fibers of the first set of fibers and fibers of the second set of fibers, wherein each of the fibers includes a longitudinal conductive element, whereas fibers of at least one of the first and second sets of fibers further include a longitudinal coat of at least one light emitting substance being in intimate contact with the conductive element, the at least one light emitting substance is selected such that on applying an electric field between crossing conductive elements, radiation is emitted from the light emitting substance.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. An electroluminescent device comprising a close arrangement of a first set of fibers and a second set of fibers, wherein each of said fibers includes a longitudinal conductive element and a longitudinal dielectric coating, said close arrangement being embedded in a luminescent substance. 
     
     
       2. The device of  claim 1 , wherein said luminescent substance is a semiconductive polymer having a sufficiently low concentration of extrinsic charge carriers, such that when charge carriers are injected into said semiconductor coat from said conductive elements, radiation is emitted from said polymer. 
     
     
       3. The device of  claim 1 , wherein said longitudinal conductive element is a core and said longitudinal dielectric coating is a coating of said core. 
     
     
       4. The device of  claim 2 , wherein said luminescent substance is phosphor mixed with epoxy resin. 
     
     
       5. The device of  claim 1 , wherein said fibers including said conductive element, said dielectric coating and said luminescent substance wherein said fibers are embedded are about 10 micrometers to about 2 centimeters in width. 
     
     
       6. The device of  claim 1 , wherein said conductive element includes a substance selected from the group consisting of metal, metal oxide, alloy, a conductive polymer and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       7. The device of  claim 6 , wherein said substance is selected from the group consisting of aluminum, aluminum oxide, gold/magnesium/silver alloy, indium oxide and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       8. The device of  claim 1 , wherein said conductive element of each of said fibers, is about 50-99% of the collective thickness of said fibers and said luminescent substance wherein said fibers are embedded. 
     
     
       9. The device of  claim 1 , wherein said fibers of said first set and said fibers of said second set are arranged substantially perpendicular to one another. 
     
     
       10. The device of  claim 1 , wherein said fibers of said first set and said fibers of said second set are interlocked in a woven arrangement. 
     
     
       11. The device of  claim 1 , further comprising an implement for applying said electric field between crossing conductive elements. 
     
     
       12. A storable information display screen for use with an electric information processing device comprising an electroluminescent device including a close arrangement of a first set of fibers and a second set of fibers, wherein each of said fibers includes a longitudinal conductive element and a longitudinal dielectric coating, said close arrangement being embedded in a luminescent substance. 
     
     
       13. The device of  claim 12 , wherein said luminescent substance is a semiconductive polymer having a sufficiently low concentration of extrinsic charge carriers, such that when charge carriers are injected into said semiconductor coat from said conductive elements, radiation is emitted from said polymer. 
     
     
       14. The device of  claim 12 , wherein said longitudinal conductive element is a core and said longitudinal dielectric coating is a coating of said core. 
     
     
       15. The device of  claim 13 , wherein said luminescent substance is phosphor mixed with epoxy resin. 
     
     
       16. The device of  claim 12 , further comprising a foldable frame that supports said electroluminescent device. 
     
     
       17. The device of  claim 12 , further comprising a bidirectionally-rollable axis that supports said electroluminescent device. 
     
     
       18. A method of manufacturing an electroluminescent device comprising the steps of: 
       (a) providing a first set of fibers and a second set of fibers, each of said fibers including a longitudinal conductive element and a longitudinal coating consisting of a dielectric substance,  
       (b) arranging said fibers of said first and second sets of fibers to form a two dimensional close array of junctions therebetween, and  
       (c) embedding said two dimensional close array of junctions in a luminescent substance such that a coating of said luminescent substance is applied to said close array of junctions, said luminescent substance being selected such that when an electric field is formed between crossing conductive elements at said junctions, radiation is emitted from said luminescent substance.  
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 18 , wherein said luminescent substance is a semiconductive polymer having a sufficiently low concentration of extrinsic charge carriers, such that when charge carriers are injected into said semiconductor coat from said conductive elements, radiation is emitted from said polymer. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 18 , wherein said longitudinal conductive element is a core and said longitudinal coating of a dielectric substance is a coating of said core. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 19 , wherein said at least one luminescent substance is phosphor mixed with epoxy resin. 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 18 , wherein fibers including said conductive elements, said coating of a dielectric substance and said luminescent substance wherein said fibers are embedded are about 10 micrometers to about 2 centimeters in width. 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 18 , wherein said conductive element includes a substance selected from the group consisting of metal, metal oxide, alloy, a conductive polymer and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 23 , wherein said substance is selected from the group consisting of aluminum, aluminum oxide, gold/magnesium/silver alloy, indium oxide and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       25. The method of  claim 18 , wherein said conductive element of each of said fibers, including said luminescent substance coating is about 50-99% of the total thickness of said fibers. 
     
     
       26. The method of  claim 18 , wherein said fibers of said first set of fibers and said fibers of said second set of fibers are arranged substantially perpendicular to one another. 
     
     
       27. The method of  claim 18 , wherein said fibers of said first set of fibers and said fibers of said second set of fibers are interlocked in a woven arrangement. 
     
     
       28. The method of  claim 18 , further comprising the step of connecting to said fibers an implement for applying said electric field between crossing conductive elements.